Vulcanizer



Jan. 3, 1928.

' E. FETTER VULCANIZER Filed Jan. 13. 1920 2 Sheets$heet l t m M w a Jan. 3, 1928. 1,655,095

E. FETTER VULCANIZER I'Patented Jan. 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,655,095 PATENT OFFICE.

EDEVARD FETTER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE PNEUMATIC TUBE STEAM SPLICER' COMPANY, OF BALTIMORE,

MARYLAND.

MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF VULCANIZER.

Application filed January 13, 1920. Serial No. 351,172.

This invention relates to certain improvements in vulcanizing devices, particularly of the type wherein the inner tubes of pneumatic tires are spliced or joined together in vulcanizing the ends instead of cementing said ends by the use of acids or other cementing agencies, and which improvements are particularly applicable to my apparatus or device as covered by Letters Patent dated August 5, 1919, No. 1,312,029.

A further object to provide for utilizing or applying an electrical heating action for aiding the vulcanizing operation, as well as other heating means for that purpose.

Other objects of the invention, together with the foregoing recited objects will be apparent from the following description and accompanying illustrations.

The invention. consists therefore of cer tain instrumentalities and features of construction substantially as hereinafter more fully disclosed and defined by the appended claims The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred embodiment of one form of my invention wherein it will be understood that various changes and modifications as relate to the detailed construction and arrangement of parts are provided for without departing from the spirit or scope of said invention as covered by the claims, and in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a view partly in longitudinal section, and partly in elevation representing my invention or vulcanizer as applied for use in effecting the vulcanizing operation,

the inner tube of a pneumatic tire being shown as having its ends for splicing or joining in position on the heater or cylinder for vulcanizing;

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on the. line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the vulcanizer with the closure for the entrance opening thereto removed or displaced;

Figure 4: is an inverted view of said closure;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the insulator withdrawn from the vulcanizer, the sections orinembers thereof being, shown separated.

Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal section of a modification of my invention, a fragmentary portion thereof being shown. throw i1 up or elevated in dotted lines;

carrying out my invention Figure 7 is a plan view thereof;

Figure 8 is an end view, partly broken away and partly in section of the same;

Figure 9 is a corresponding View disclosing a second modification of my invention as adapted more particularly for effecting the vulcanizing operation electrically.

As characteristic features of these improvements, I employ a heating or vulcanizing instrumentality, as for example, a cylinder designated generally as 1, and of the general outline of the greatest portion of its longitudinal area as that disclosed in my patent above noted,.being suitably supported in position as at 1, said cylinder-having an annular or circumferential heat-receiving space or chamber 2.

The annular heat-receiving chamber 2 has its walls preferably suitably extended as at .2 the resultant extension being arcuate in transverse section or. contoured in conformit-y with the walls of the primary or main portions of said chamber of which it forms a continuation, as clearly seen, particularly in Figures 1 and 8. The purpose of this arrangement is to provide for the requisite clearance in sleeving the rubber or elastic tube over the primary heating surface of the cylinder, as in bringing the portions of the tube. doubled or folded upon itself necessary to suitably effect contact at whatever point the tube or fabric may require joining or splicing, as will be more fully appreciated from the description of the operation of as subsequently herein disclosed. I I

Also, as in said patent, said cylinder is provided with a valve-equipped supply pipe 3 and a correspondingly equipped outlet 4, said pipes 3 andd being in communication with the annular steam or heat-receiving chamber 2. V

The cylinder'or instrumentality 1 is provided in itsupper surface with alongitudh nal opening 5, extending the entire length of theprimaryportion thereof, to provide for the insertion of the required portion of the tire inner tube 6, collapsed of course, therethrough, into the cylinder, said tube after the vulcanizing operation being removed, as presently described. A suitable closure 7 for said opening is provided along its longitudinal edges upon the underside, with slightly tapered lateral extensions 7" let into corresponding recesses 7, in the outer edges of the cylinder to prevent lateral displacei'uent of the closure, said closure being hinged or pivoted at its ends to provide for raising the same without having to bodily lift it out'of the opening 5, said closure being provided at opposite corner edges with ears or apertured projections 7 receiving pin-like projections 7 from the ends of the cylinder.

I provide, however, means, as for instance, a tubular device S for insertion or interposition intermediate the heating or vulcanizing cylindel-and the inner tube to exclude the I heat radiated inwardly from the heating Gil agency within the annular chamber2 of the cylinder 1, and prevent its affecting the rubher tube, as would result during the vulcanizing operation. The device or tubular member 8 is preferably of wood or fibrous material, or other good non-conductor of heat, and is preferably in two longitudinal members or sections 8, as shown to provide for its ready application for use or insertion within the cylinder, around the rubber tube as clearly shown on Figure 1. One endof each section or member 8 of the non-conductor or fibrous device 8, is adapted to sui ably project beyond one end of the cylinder, as also shown in Figure 1, said projecting ends being formed with shoulders 8 adapted to abut the end of the cylinder 1 and thus serve as stops to'limit the extent of their insertion andiprovide for facilitating their withdrawal by tho'grasping thereof by. the fingers.

The method herein employed for effecting the vulcanizing operation is Practically the same as that described inmypatent abovefnoted which is substantially as fol lows: a a

The rubber tube the ends of which have been overlapped and secured together in a preliminary way by means of a vulcanizable cement is suitably applied in adetlated condition into the cylinder or vulcanizing device 1 through the longitudinal opening or slot 5-afterraising the hinged or pivoted closure 7' from over. said slot or opening. The cylinder being only slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the tube whose ends are to be spliced, it is therefore necessary to admit compressed air into said tube after placing it in position within the vulcanizer. Before doing this however, the closure T is removed, as'previously stated, from its place by swinging it onoits hinges, and the deflated tube, whoseends it is desiredftojoin or splice, is passed through the slot of the cylinder after which the closureis rep'laced. a a

The tubeisnow pumped up, or in- Y flated to allow of the portion of the tube where'the jointis located to be forced over one end of the vulcanlzing cylinder, so as to bring the outer surface of thetube and extending joint'next to the outer surface of the cylinder. The tube is now deflated during which the tube will auton'iatically adhere tightly to the outer surface of the cylinder, but its grip thereon may be increased or insured by wrapping around the same strips of suitable n'iaterial. I

Another method of arranging the tube within the cylinder, in order to accomplish the effect of forcing the tube over the cylinder, as described above, is to fold the tube upon itself before laying it in the cylinder, and after replacing the closure 7, pull or force the fold back over the end of the cylinder or vulcanizer, in which case the tube is placed on the cylinder for vulcanizing or splicing without the use of compressed air.

The heating agent, as steam or electricity, is now admitted to the annular heating chamber of the cylinder for effecting the vulcanizing process or operation, the manner f providing for heating the cylinder electrically being later described. The amount of time for carrying out the vulcanizing operation depends, of course, upon the composition of the material used. lVhen the joint has been vulcanized it is only necessr ry to admit compressed air pressure to the tube when the latter will'force itself off the end of the cylinder, the resultant effect of the aforesaid operation being the forming-of a perfect or effective joint. 7 i a as disclosed by Figure 6, I'provide a cylinder or instrumentality l which, unlike the above described cylinder 1, is bisected longitudinally in a. horizontal line or plane as at it, the resultant sections thereof'l" being preferably each extended or formed at one end into what may be termed as b aolrcts 2, the outer end-portions of'whicl are preferably flared laterally or vertically and hingedly or pivotedly connected together as at 2, thus providingfor swinging or moving the upper cylinder-section away from the lower section as indicated by arrow and diagramniatically in dotted lines in l igure 6, whereby the insertion or disposi tion of the rubber tube within the cylinder may be effected with greater facility than would otherwise be the case. The sections 1 of the cylinder 1 are tubular or formed with heating chamber'l f suitably provided with steam or other heating agency admitting an outlet means as the valve equipped pipesv 4*, 4 l, r lfh'respectively, as seen particularly in Figure 8. I V 1 V As disclosed by Figure 6, as a second modification of vInyiinvention, I provide for heating the chambers 1 (seeFigureS), of the tubular portions or sections 1 of the cylinder 1 with means for performing the vulcanizing operation electrically by equipping the same preferablywith rheostatic wires 9, as. shown, said chambers' being adapted to proyide for suitably insulating til , lUZi introducing heating medium into said Walls the Wires as shown, the terminals 9 of the wires in practice, being connected to a suitable source of electrical energy utilized by the rheostat or WiI'QS for generating the row; uisite heating action in effecting the vuloanizing operation.

I claim:

1. A tube splicing appliance comprising a cylindrical mandrel having hollow walls and means for introducing heating medium into said hollow portion providing an external vulcanizing surface, the mandrel having a longitudinal opening to admit the tube and a gate for closing said opening and hinge on which said gate swings, the hinge being pa *allel to the axis of the cylinder.

2. A tube splicing apparatus comprising a mandrel having hollow Walls, means for 7 the mandrel having an external vuloanizing surface which is substantially cylindrical and having an opening extending longitudinally the full length of the mandrel to ad: niit the tube, and a gate for said opening having a hinge connecting the gate to the mandrel and permitting it to swing from open to closed position.

3. A tube splicing appliance comprising a mandrel. having hollow rails and means for introducing heating medium into said hollow portion providing an external vulcanizing surface, the mandrel having a longitudinal opening to admit the tube, and a gate for said opening, said gate being provided at opposite edges with and pivoting means extending through said ears and through a portion of the mandrel in the direction or the length of the mandrel.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my gnatu re.

EDWARD FETTER. 

